Problem Solved for NVIDIA proprietary drivers (older ones at least):
Find your specific driver at:
http://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-uk and save to Desktop.
Commands followed:
apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade
apt-get install -y linux-headers-$(uname -r)
DO NOT: apt-get install nvidia-kernel-dkms (this will prevent you from installing your specific driver that is not covered in the generic nvidia package)
Then run: sed 's/quiet/quiet nouveau.modeset=0/g' -i /etc/default/grub
update-grub
reboot
- The proprietary driver wont install without this nouveau being killed so do that now...
Type: CTRL+ALT+F2 and at the prompt type 'init 3'. Check status with 'runlevel' command (it should say 3 or something like 5 3.
Locate the .run/exe file on Desktop with cd \Desktop and execut with chmod u+x [file name as on desktop]
Install should work fine now....
The only problem now (and its bugging me a little) is that every time i install a package (whatever package) it is asking me whether i want to uninstall the driver i have installed and re-install the generic package! I always click no and i double checked with nvidia-settings (having to install it and doing the same thing with that - i.e., saying no to uninstalling my proprietary driver) which confirms that my driver is installed and recognized. It seems to work fine... but i dont understand why apt-get install [package x, y, z] would cause nvidia uninstall to initiate....
Also, every package installs successfully despite warnings that it hasn't... pulseaudio controllers, transmission, etc... but i suspect the final warning is that the specific driver for my nvidia card wasnt uninstalled and that was all...